Criminal justice systems locally and globally make it their goal to reduce crime and maintain the rule of law. The effectiveness of these systems is always in flux, and there are a great number of institutions, public and private, dedicated to understanding and improving criminal justice systems. The criminal justice system employs an incredible number of people in various roles, from police officers who enforce the law at the street level, to lawmakers, judges, attorneys, corrections officers, and others with varying levels of authority to interpret and enforce the law.

In a democratic society, everyone should have a basic understanding of the criminal justice system, and those who plan to make their careers in it should have a deeper knowledge of its history and inner workings. The websites gathered here cover all of the major aspects of the system, from legislation and the creation of new laws, to the court system and even the jails and prisons that make up the corrections system. These sites are not being ranked for quality, but are all suggested reading for students and professionals with a vested interest in the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice Organizations

Criminal justice organizations both public and private exist to monitor the criminal justice system, improve it, and ensure that it is serving its purpose.

National Criminal Justice Association

Based in Washington, D.C., the NCJA represents state, tribal and local governments on crime prevention and crime control issues. They are a national voice in shaping and implementing criminal justice policy since its founding in 1971.

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National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD)

NACJD works to facilitate research in criminal justice and criminology, through the preservation, enhancement, and sharing of computerized data resources. They also offer specialized training workshops in quantitative analysis of crime and justice data.

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Justice Research and Statistics Association

JRSA conducts and publishes multistate, policy-relevant research on justice issues. They provide research to practitioners throughout government, academia, and the justice community.

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Justice | NAACP

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

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Criminal Justice | American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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American Society of Criminology

The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge in the area of criminal justice and crimes. They study etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency

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Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation was established in 1982 as a nonprofit, public interest law organization dedicated to the balance of the rights of crime victims and the criminally accused. Their efforts have helped to reduce the length and expense of appeals, recognize the rights and needs of child crime victims, and improve law enforcement’s ability to identify and prosecute all types of criminals.

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National Council on Crime and Delinquency

In their own words, The National Council on Crime and Delinquency promotes “just and equitable social systems for individuals, families, and communities through research, public policy, and practice.” They are an invaluable part of the national criminal justice system, especially as pertaining to youth and families.

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Real Justice

The Real Justice conference is a tool that allows those who have been most affected by an incident to come together to describe how they have been affected and develop a plan to repair the harm done and prevent recurrence. This conferencing tool is victim-sensitive and re-integrative.

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Justice in Conflict

Justice in Conflict primarily studies international justice issues. They discuss challenges for achieving international criminal justice, as well as conflicting ideas of what justice is.

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Battered Women’s Justice Project

The Battered Women’s Justice Project promotes change within the civil and criminal justice systems to enhance their effectiveness in providing safety, security, and justice for battered women and their families. They offer training, technical assistance, and consultation on the most promising practices of the criminal and civil legal systems in addressing domestic violence.

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National Center for Juvenile Justice

NCJJ is the oldest juvenile justice research group in the United States. Their mission is creating effective justice for children and families through research and technical assistance.

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ODPS | Office of Criminal Justice Services

The Office of Criminal Justice Services in Ohio encompasses a number of different areas. They concentrate on policy and research, law enforcement services, and human trafficking, as well as driver and motorcycle training.

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Measures for Justice: The Justice Index

Measures for Justice’s goal is to flag and fix systemic problems in the American criminal justice system. They accomplish this by creating a system of measures that will allow counties to see how well or poorly their justice systems are providing the public with basic legal services.

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IJIS Institute

IJIS members are information technology companies and consultancies that provide solutions to justice, public safety, and homeland security agencies to help them share information. They are founded by grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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American Criminal Justice Assoc. Lambda Alpha Epsilon

This group works to promote professional, academic, and public awareness of criminal justice issues. They work to enforce high standards of professional training and higher education within the criminal justice field.

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Family Law Courts

FamilyLawCourts.com is an extensive resource for reporters and family court litigants. Some information includes topics such as custody, divorce, personal rights, and more.

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World Criminal Justice Library Network

The World Criminal Justice Library Network was formed at a meeting of librarians and criminal justice information specialists in 1991. Members have access to special library collections, international crime data, and more.

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American Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences is an international association that fosters professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice. ACJS promotes criminal justice education, research, and policy analysis within the discipline of criminal justice for both educators and practitioners.

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National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

The goal of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) is to be recognized as a highly competent, public service organization that is at the forefront of providing solutions to law enforcement issues and concerns, as well as to the ever-changing needs of our communities.

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Bureau of Justice Statistics

The mission of the BJS is to collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems. Their data is crucial in helping federal, state, and local policymakers in combat crime.

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Federal Bureau of Prisons

Bureau of Prisons was established in 1930 to provide more progressive and humane care for federal inmates. They professionalize the prison service, and ensure consistent and centralized administration of federal prisons.

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Division of Criminal Justice – CT.gov

The Division of Criminal Justice is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the State of Connecticut. They focus on justice for any crime, from stop sign violation to murder.

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Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services is the office of the U.S. Department of Justice that advances the practice of community policing in America. They provide essential information in the form of best practices for law enforcement.

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Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems. They work in partnership with the justice community to identify the most pressing crime-related challenges and provide information, training, and coordination.

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Models for Change

Launched in 2004, Models for Change is a multi-state initiative working to guide and accelerate advances to make juvenile justice systems fairer, effective, rational and developmentally appropriate.

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National Innocence Project

The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing. Their mission is to reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

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Centre for Justice Innovation

The Centre for Justice Innovation seeks to introduce and support new ideas, new projects and new practice in the British criminal justice system. With a commitment to sharing learning between the US and UK, the Centre combines research and international evidence gathering with expert support to front-line practitioners to help build a more innovative and dynamic criminal justice system.

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National Institute of Corrections Library

NIC provides training, technical assistance, information services, and policy and program development assistance to federal, state, and local corrections agencies. They also provide leadership to influence correctional policies, practices, and operations nationwide.

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BJA Center for Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement

State and local agencies find the resources of BJA useful for planning and evaluating criminal justice programs. Their user-friendly online evaluation tools designed to assist state and local criminal justice planners, practitioners, administrators and others.

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IIRP

IIRP is part of a large worldwide movement of scholars, policy-makers and practitioners advancing the fields of restorative justice. They work with licensees and affiliates around the world to make certain restorative practices are presented in a culturally appropriate manner.

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Criminal Justice | International Center for Transitional Justice

This non-profit organization specializes in the field of transitional justice. They provide technical expertise, knowledge, and experiences to transitional organizations around the world.

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Indiana Criminal Justice Institute

Their website links to the Indiana department of corrections, the Indiana General Assembly, and other useful legal and political information.

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National Family Justice Center Alliance

The National Family Justice Center Alliance is a comprehensive technical assistance and training provider for the United States Department of Justice for federally funded Centers. The Alliance hosts an annual international conference, provides shared learning opportunities such as staff exchange programs, internships, web-based education programs, and training in many areas related to family violence, elder abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

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Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition

The mission of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. They also strongly oppose the for-profit, private prison industry and its presence in Colorado.

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JusticeMakers – International Bridges to Justice

JusticeMakers is an online community that facilitates intelligent conversations and best practices in the field of criminal justice. They also connect members of the criminal defense community and hosts competitions that create innovative proposals that seek to curb torture and legal abuse.

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Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

Created in 1983, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state agency dedi­cated to improving the administration of criminal justice. ICJIA brings together key leaders from the justice system and the public to identify critical issues facing the criminal justice system in Illinois, and to propose and evaluate policies, programs, and legislation that address those issues.

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State Justice Institute

The State Justice Institute was established by Federal law in 1984 to award grants to improve the quality of justice in State courts. They also work to facilitate better coordination between State and Federal courts, and foster solutions to common issues faced by all courts.

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Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

The mission of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is to provide leadership to improve the criminal justice system in Virginia’s communities through effective training, partnerships, research, regulation, and support. Their work focuses on creating dynamic, data-driven system-wide solutions for public safety.

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California Attorneys for Criminal Justice: CACJ

This is a great source for when defense team members and their clients need a strong advocate for justice in the legislature, the courts and the media.

Philadelphia Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section

The Philadelphia Bar Association is a blog covering legal issues and criminal justice topics locally and nationally, with a specific emphasis on events and laws affecting Philadelphia’s lawyers and court system.

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SC Criminal Justice Academy

The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy is a law enforcement training facility that provides instruction in basic and advanced skills for officers in all branches of the police and other enforcement agencies

Blogs & News Sources

Lawyers, police officers, civil rights advocates, and many others with personal interest or involvement in the criminal justice system share their insights through blogs. These are a great resource for anyone who wants to know more about the inner workings of the system.

Pace Criminal Justice Center Blog

The Pace Criminal Justice Center is an academic criminal law center in New York State. Their blog addresses issues, events, cases, and publications that are particularly applicable to New York State’s criminal process, as well as covering national and international crime news.

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Huffpost Crime

This site, powered by the Huffington Post, is dedicated to news about law and crime. They highlight and discuss any major crime related stories from around the country.

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the NEFblog

New Economics Foundation is a UK organization promoting social, economic and environmental justice. They work with groups on the issues of climate change, financial crisis, and more.

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Criminal Justice | The Arc Blog

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families. They are a leader in in disability rights, for people with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities.

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Death penalty Information Center

The Death Penalty Information Center is a national non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. They promote informed discussion of the death penalty by preparing in-depth reports, conducting briefings for journalists, and serving as a resource to those working on this issue

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College of Criminal Justice Blog

The College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University has an excellent web page with diverse resources about criminal justice. They regularly post updates about new certifications available, important alumni news, and breakthrough law and policy from around the country.

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Right on Crime: Conservative Criminal Justice Reform

Right On Crime is an excellent source for conservative ideas on criminal justice and a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. They are committed to the ideas of limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and personal responsibility.

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Crime Magazine

This magazine began publishing in 1998. Their goal is to cover all aspects of true crime, including from organized crime to serial killers, capital punishment, prisons, celebrity crime, assassinations and government corruption, and even crime films and books about crime.

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Pardon Power

This site is dedicated to following the very latest news regarding presidential pardons and the pardon power as exercised in each state. They also have an extensive list of terms and vocabulary related to crime and pardons.

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Cold Case Squad

Joseph L. Giacalone is a retired NYPD Detective Sergeant with an extensive background in criminal investigations. He has trained investigators from all over the country and is a celebrated criminal justice author.

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Excessive Bail

This site focuses on many different aspects of criminal justice. The writer posts reflections on search and seizure, drugs and alcohol issues, science and law.

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Criminal Justice And Human Rights Law Blog

This blog focuses on elements of the American justice system. The writer logs statistics, facts, and figures about civil rights law, liberties law, human rights, criminal justice law, and more.

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Sentencing Law and Policy

Run by a law professor out of Columbus, Ohio, this site focuses on court cases, justice strategies, and law courses. He links to several other legal focused blogs, as well as state and federal justice sites.

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Hercules and the Umpire

Written by an active judge, who is interested in the role of judges and particularly the role of federal trial judges. He regularly posts about historic cases and judges who have shaped important legal precedent.

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The Charles Smith Blog

Harold Levy has experience in law and reporting from working for the Toronto Star and as a lawyer in Ontario’s criminal courts. His posts focus on cases involving flawed forensic science from all over the world.

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Legal Ethics Forum

This legal forum site is run by three law school professors. They analyze court cases, past and current, as well as technology, law school, and more.

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Josh Blackman’s Blog

Josh Blackman is an Assistant Professor of Law at the South Texas College of Law who specializes in constitutional law, the United States Supreme Court, and the intersection of law and technology. He was selected by Forbes Magazine for the “30 Under 30″ in Law and Policy.

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Second City Cop

The Second City Cop blog has been the “go to” resource for knowing what’s actually going on at the CPD and not having to filter through the lack of relevant information or cover-ups by the local media.

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Early American Crime

This blog explores crime, criminals, and punishment from American history. The author also has a book sharing the story of how the British transported convicts to colonial America.

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Cop in the Hood

Moskos is former Baltimore City police officer and associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He has written several books on law and crime.

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The Justice Blog

The main mission of the US Department of Justice is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States. Their blog reports on important hearings, historical proceedings, and more.

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The Sentencing Project News

The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration. They provide defense lawyers with sentencing advocacy training and to reduce the reliance on incarceration.

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The Justice Gap

The Justice Gap is an online magazine about the law and justice aimed at the public. They launched on October 6th 2011.

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GRITS FOR BREAKFAST

Grits for Breakfast is a look at Texas politics and the criminal justice system. It is maintained by opposition researcher and political consultant.

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Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)

FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization fighting for smart sentencing laws that protect public safety.

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ABA Journal – Criminal Justice

Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to supporting the legal profession with practical resources for legal professionals while improving the administration of justice. Their law blog provides up to date law news.

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American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Blog

The American Constitution Society believes in the law as a driving, positive force in society. They build networks of lawyers, law students, judges and policymakers dedicated to powerful, relevant ideas in order to shape policy.

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Corrections.com

Corrections.com is the single most recognizable brand online for the global community of corrections. Award-winning daily news is at the core of our business, with the most comprehensive database of vendor intelligence in corrections. Together, Corrections.com’s staff and audience members work as a team to improve communication, notification and collaboration among professionals worldwide.

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Just Policy Blog – Justice Policy Institute

Justice Policy Institute is a national nonprofit organization that changes the conversation around justice reform and advances policies that promote well-being and justice for all people and communities. Their mission is to reduce the use of incarceration and the justice system and promote policies that improve the well-being of all people and communities.

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The Crime Report

The Crime Report is a comprehensive criminal justice resource. Their work is collaborative effort with two national organizations that focus on encouraging quality criminal justice reporting.

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Blog — Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice

The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization whose mission is to reduce society’s reliance on incarceration as a solution to social problems.

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Criminal Justice Blog — Chicago Justice Project

The Chicago Justice Project is an independent, non-profit research organization that strives to access and analyze data from criminal justice agencies. They promote evidence based reforms that will better serve the justice needs of local communities.

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Mark Obbie

Mark Obbie is a writer on crime, law, and business. His blog covers legal issues, police and courts, drugs and violent crime, legal policy, and a variety of business-and-law topics.

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Criminal Justice Blog (Cops)

Commander Kristen Ziman is a police Commander working in a suburb of Chicago. She currently oversees the Investigations Bureau and is a certified trainer in many areas.

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Crime & Justice Blog

Crime and Justice works to connect criminal justice and practice. The blogger focuses on crime news, technology, correction, as well as research and policy.

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Barry Bradford Blog

Barry Bradford is a civil rights activist and well-known speaker. He has many experiences, awards, and recognitions in the area of civil law and he speaks regularly on the topic of leadership and personal empowerment.

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Prosecutor’s Discretion

This blog provides insights into the criminal justice system and the life of an ADA.

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Criminal Justice blog

This blog focuses the criminal justice system in Australia. The writers are criminal justice professionals, and post about the politics of policing and justice, contemporary theories of criminal justice, rural and farm crime, as well as state politics and legislative behavior.

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Scotus Blog

SCOTUSblog is a law blog written by lawyers, law professors, and law students about the Supreme Court of the United States. The blog is sponsored by Bloomberg Law.

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Prison Culture

Prison Culture is an attempt to document how the current prison industrial complex operates and to underscore the ways that it structures American society.

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Media Coverage of Crime and Criminal Justice

This is a blog dedicated to discussing the topic of media coverage and criminal justice. It is named after Matthew E. Robinson’s book with the same title.

Criminal Defense Info

Criminal defense attorneys and others involved in the adjudication aspect of criminal justice have a keener understanding of the law and its consequences than most. Their websites are a great source of info for students in criminal justice programs.

Lawrence Taylor’s DUI Blog

This site focuses on the laws surrounding DUI charges. It follows various laws regarding DUI issues from state to state, as well support state and tax payer initiatives.

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Tempe Criminal Defense

Brown & Little P.L.C. is a small criminal defense law firm in Arizona. Their areas of practice are misdemeanors, felonies, and juvenile crimes.

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Gamso – For the Defense

This site is the commentary of an Ohio criminal defense lawyer. He writes about criminal law, forensic evidence, police conduct, and other controversial topics.

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Koehler Law Blog

Koehler Law Services clients Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. They cater to all types of incidents, including drug and weapon charges, drinking and driving offenses, public intoxication, arson, trespassing, and many more.

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Defensology

Defensology is aimed at general audiences interested in issues affecting the use of technology in criminal investigations and prosecutions. It is maintained by Robert Perez, a criminal defense lawyer in Seattle.

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Mark Bennett’s Defending People

This is a law blog written by Mark Bennett discussing the tao of criminal-defense trial lawyering.

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Fourth Amendment

This site is an online supplement to to the fifth edition of the book “Search and Siezure” John Wesley Hall, Jr. The site offers insight into the ongoing debate about what constitutes reasonable search and seizure, as well as other issues relevant to constitutional law and the criminal justice system.

Other Criminal Justice Sites

The criminal justice system sparks debate and controversy regularly, and the amount that has been written and discussed about it has the overall effect of making it a fascinating subject to study academically or casually.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)

Established in 1972, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service is a federally funded resource offering justice-related information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide. Their services and resources are available to anyone interested in crime, victim assistance, and public safety.

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MERLOT Criminal Justice Portal

MERLOT is a free and open peer reviewed collection of online teaching and learning materials and faculty-developed services contributed and used by an international education community.

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Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths

The Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, Inc. (IPICD) was founded by John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D. in the Spring of 2005 with its sole purpose to educate interested parties about arrest-related deaths.

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American Probation and Parole Association

The American Probation and Parole Association is an international association, with members involved in pretrial, probation, parole and community-based corrections. Members include educators, volunteers, victim service providers, concerned citizens and others with an interest in criminal and juvenile justice.

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Restorative Works

The International Institute for Restorative Practices is a world leader in restorative practices. They provide professional development and accredited master’s degree and certificate programs, offering criminal justice professionals practical knowledge and skills.

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American Jail Association

The American Jail Association is a national, nonprofit organization that supports the professionals who operate America’s jails. They provide leadership in the development of professional standards, pertinent legislation, management practices, programs, and services.

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Criminal Justice Research Center

CJRC was established in 1989 as the focal point for collaborative interdisciplinary research on crime, delinquency and justice issues. They encourage intelligent conversation among faculty, graduate and professional students, policymakers and practitioners, and provide research-based outreach to crime and justice policymakers.

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International Centre for Prison Studies

The International Centre for Prison Studies assists governments and other relevant agencies to develop appropriate policies on prisons and the use of imprisonment.

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Paul’s Justice Page

This page is for people who want to deepen their understanding of crime policies. Articles focus on reducing crime and violence, including corporate crime.

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American Correctional Association

The American Correction Association is the oldest and largest international correctional association. They serve all disciplines within the corrections profession.